Folding clothesbasket



28 mm H JAQKSQN 2 5%3223 FOLDING CLO'HES BASEEJ! Film Jan. 4, 1946 INVENTGR MARION H. JACKSUN M ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING GLOTHESBASKET MarionH. Jackson, Dayton, Qhios.

Application January 4, 1946," SeriaI'No. 6.391021 IiGIaim; I

The present invention re1ates=toportable con tainers; particularly those of'the folding fabric type used more especially for clothes baskets-2 The usual form of clothes'basket is generally constituted of fairly large fibrous'reeds entwined with-one'another" so" that the basket as a -whole is'quite inflexible, large and=cumbersoma While a basket of this type is quite light, it is never-- theless not completely portable due to therelatively large size. This-last mentioned character istic also precludes theready storage of"such a basket when not in use.-

In order-to attain thefeature of portability, the prior arthas proposed'the'use of fabric receptacles mounted between two sets of intersecting bars, but constructions of this charactenhave not altogether been satisfactory due not'only'to the lack of sturdinessbut also due to thedifiicult'y of maintainingfixed distances between the various-barswhen the basket parts are moved to their fully open-position, all'of which considerations .'point to faulty design and arrangement. These difliculties were enhanced in c'ase the fabric became wet fromda-mp'" wash and" tended eitherto stretch or shrink which againiailected the=proper-positions of the various constructional elements; Many; if not all, of the fabric type of basliet are mountedon relatiiielylbw wooden frameworks in 1 order to derive a as much stability as possible andreceptacles of this typewere particularly objectionable on account of necessitating considerable stoopon the part of the person using the'baslret. That clothesbasketsof this fabric type have not-been altogethersatisf'actory in the past is clearly-demonstrated by the fact that very few, if'any, of such baskets areon' the present day market and it appears that-women still-prefer the largeopen top reedtype of 'basket.

The main object of theinvention is to provides; light, yetsturdy and portable; containeroutstoopihgand which can be readily carried from place to place and set upwithout having to bend over.

Another object is to provide a foldable clothes basket which will be comparatively-simple: and

inexpensive to manufacture; eflicient' in use, dur- 2 ablein service, and a general improvementover structures-of this type in the-art Aiurther object-is to provideaportable clothes basket; of-the foldableiabric type" in which there is provisionin oneor both ends of' the basket for carrying clothes pins,.linewash rags'and .any other articles useful in. securing or removing clothes from a clothes line;

Still another objectis to'provide alight clothes basket of the'fabric foldable type and in which the two' ends ofthe basket cantbe'readily' brought and held" together even when the basket is fairly filled with clothes'so as, in eifect, to'provide a temporary. coveringfor the bundle of clothes in carrying them to or from-the laundry basement or'fr'omtin or out of: doors. Thesides ofthe improved basket'soarrange themselves when the ends of'the' basket are brought together preparatory to carrying the bundle from one position to another that none of the. clothes are lost from the basket;

The above objectsiareattained in brief-by pro- .viding'two' setsof intersecting bars with cross pieces, connecting the upper ends of the bars, the bars having a length sufiicient' to. locate the basket: at a. considerablehei'ght, together with self locking hinge members positioned between the bars .of'each-set in order to hold thesebars at theirfullyopen position when the basket is in use. Openings are provided in the fabric at each: end of the basket directly below the cross pieces so thatxthe: hands may be inserted and thus grasp the-cross pieces in order to carry 'the basket to. anew location; The intersecting bars of each set are" arranged; one bar within" the other, and'a dowel rodextends through the intersectionapoint; th srod: constituting aswivel for the inner bar'atzeach" side of the basket, but'is rigidly-securedtother outerrbar of :each set. This construction assures that all of the wear between each bar setan'd the swivel rod takes place 'at'the inner 'bar so that therouter bar which is" fixedly secured to the sw velrodiprevents the innerbar from moving lengthwise of therod and the swivel joint is" securely held intact.

The invention will 1 be better: understood r when reference is made to-the: following description and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective-viewer the improved clothes basket; looking.- into the. in terior thereof:

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2 -23 in Fi'gure-l;

Figure 3 1s a planview looking downwardly at about the position of 1ine:=2 -2 in Figure l, but

showing the entire width of the frame below the swivel joint.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the centrally disposed swivel and the immediately adjacent elements.

Figure 5 represents a modified form of the upper portion of the improved clothes basket.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, reference characters I, 2 designate a pair of bars preferably of rectangular cross section and made of wood. These bars are pivoted at 3 by means of a dowel rod 4 as will be explained in detail hereinafter. There are two sets of these intersecting bars, one set on each side of the basketand the upper ends of the corresponding bars of each set are spanned by a dowel rod 5 at each end of the basket. The bars are loosely received on these dowels at the pivots 6. At the opposite or lower ends of the bars I they are spanned by a wooden member I, preferably nailed at the edges of the bars as indicated at 8. An additional wooden cross piece 9 is provided and this member preferably is of sufiicient length to extend over the top edges of the bars I at a position directly below the pivot 3. This cross piece is preferably nailed to the upper edge of the bars as indicated at I (Figure 3). The cross piece 9, in addition to serving as a spacing member between the opposite bars I', also serves as a stop member against which the lower edges of the inner bars may rest to determine the maximum open position of the bars. A cross piece II may be inserted between the opposite lengths of the bars I, this member being nailed to the bars as indicated at I2 (Figure 3).

In addition to the cross piece 9 which serves to determine the maximum spreading effect between the members I and 2 there is also provided a pair of rule joint hinge members I3 at each side of the basket. These hinge members are preferably of the snap joint type as indicated at I4 and one end of each hinge is secured to the outer surface of the two opposite bars 2 and the other end of each hinge member is secured to the inner surface of the adjacent bar I. The hinge members l3 serve to prevent the collapse of the basket unless the members are disjoined at the center and as stated hereinbefore they also serve to limit the distance the arm's or bars I and 2 may swing way from one another.

In order to provide a clearance between the bars I and 2 at each side of the basket and thus permit the hinge portions I3 to slide past one another when the basket is collapsed, a spacer block I5 is provided at the swivel between adjacent arms I and 2 (Figure 2). Ihis spacer block is preferably tightly secured to the rod 4 and therefore can be nailed or otherwise fixedly secured to the outer arm I of each set. However, the rod 5 is tightly received by an opening in the -outer arm I of each set and then preferably pinned in place as indicated at I6 (Figure 2). Consequently, assuming that the joint member I3 has been unlocked and bent upwardly, the arms I and 2 of each set at opposite sides of the basket will rotate with respect to one another .at the swivel 3, but the outer arm I of each set will cause the rod 4 to rotate since this rod is fixedly secured to each outer arm. The inner arm 2 of each set thus moves relative to the rod 4 as the arms are swung upwardly and inwardly together.

Inasmuch as the spacer block I5 and the outer arm I of each arm set are fixedly mounted on the rod 4, these two elements effectively serve to prevent the loosely mounted inner arm 2 from moving lengthwise with respect to the rod I and there is no danger of this inner arm ever becoming disengaged from the rod 4. It is, therefore, seen that any wear which takes place between the arms and the rod as the arms are swung about the pivot 3 is centered solely at the slidable joint between the inner arm 2 of each set and the rod.

The clothes basket proper is formed of a heavy fabric I! such as canvas which can be waterproofed if desired and is so cut and sewn as to take a general rectangular shape. The upper longitudinal edges of the canvas bag or trough are provided with a sewed loop I8 which receives a length of fairly heavy rope I9, these rope lengths being wound around and connected to the cross pieces 5 at the inner surfaces of the arms I and 2. It will be understood that there is a pair of the rope lengths I9 spanning the ends of the cross pieces 5. The opposite ends of the rectangular canvas trough are also provided with a sewed loop which extends around the cross piece 5. The dimensions of the trough H are such that the interior thereof can receive a large quantity of clothes which may be in dry o wet condition. Assume that the jointed members I3 at each side of the basket have been pressed downwardly until the parts are in alignment and the arms 2 of each set are in contact with the wooden cross member 9. The rope lengths I9 are rendered taut so that the upper edges of the trough or basket I! present a rectangula opening so as readily to receive even the largest linens. The weight of the clothes tends to spread the arms I and 2 farther apart and this action is obviously resisted by the joint members I3 and the wooden stop 9 so that considerable stability between the parts in their extended position is obtained. In order that any excess water can be drained from the interior of the canvas basket, openings 2!] may be provided at each corner of the bottom of the basket and an extra opening if desired at the center.

I have also provided pockets 2! at each end of the basket, these pockets being made preferably of the same material as the basket and secured by sewing or in any other suitable manner to the end portions of the basket. One of these pockets may serve to receive clothes pins and the other pocket can be used for carrying a dampened rag by which to wipe the clothes line.

The basket can be readily collapsed by simply causing the cross pieces 5 to move toward one another after unlocking the jointed members I3 and even if there is a considerable quantity of clot es within the bag, the canvas sides tend to roll inwardly at the top due to the flexibility of the rope lengths I9 and there is no possibility of losing any of the clothes.

An opening 22 may be provided in each end portion of the canvas bag or basket, these openings being positioned directly below the cross pieces 5. It will be noted that the pockets 2| extend outwardly a considerable distance from these cross pieces so as to permit the hands to grasp the cross pieces or rather the canvas webs surrounding these members through the openings 22.

The arms I and 2 are preferably of sufilcient length that the opening in the basket is positioned waist high so that there is no need for stooping or assuming any other uncomfortable position while the clothes are being placed into or taken out of the basket. The arms I and 2 and the various cross pieces including the swivel rods 4 and 5 are all made out of wood, preferably a light pine, and notwithstanding the fact that these elements are fairly thin considerable stability and rigidity of structure is obtained, so that large and heavy quantities of clothes can be readily accommodated by the basket and trans-- ported from one position to another by simply grasping the cross pieces 5 through the openings 22, leaving the jointed members l3 in their aligned locked positions.

Instead oi employing the jointed members l3 for limiting the outward movement between the arms I and '2 when the basket is in full open position, I may provide a wooden bar 23 at the top of the basket on each side thereof as shown in Figure 5. This bar is swivelly connected at one end to one of the cross rods 5 at the outer side of the arm. 5, the cross rod being extended in order to accommodate the thickness of the bar. The other end of the bar 23 is provided with a slot 29 which is adapted to hook over an extended portion of the opposite cross bar 5 and thus rigidly space the two cross bars 5 from one another in full open position. When it is desired to collapse the basket, the bar 29 is unhooked at the slotted end and allowed to swing downwardly along the length of the adjacent arm I until it rests against the cross piece 9 which has been extended beyond the arm l for this purpose.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been disclosed a light weight clothes basket which, notwithstanding its relatively large size and particularly its considerable height from the floor, offers great rigidity of construction in which the various parts all contribute to the strength of the parts. Inasmuch as the outer arms at each side of the basket, also the spacers l5, are fixedly secured to the main swivel rod 4, it is impossible for the framework to become disjoined at this point as is usually the case in foldable baskets of this general type. It is apparent that in its fully open position there are three separate members, all operating independently of one another but having an additive effect to prevent the arms I and 2 from swinging outwardly too far, such members being comprised of the stop bar 9, the jointed members It and the rope members 19.

While the improved structure finds its greatest use in service as a clothes basket, it is apparent that with very small changes in its construction the apparatus can be used for other purposes; for example, as a bassinet or crib. In this case, it may be desirable to mount the side arms I and 2 on wheels (not shown). changes such as rubberizing the canvas material I! and closing the openings 20, the device may be used as a childs bathtub since the rigidity accorded by the unique manner of maintaining With still other.

the arms I and 2 in an extended position is so great that considerable pressure can be applied to the container without the slightest danger of collapse.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claim and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a collapsible clothes basket, spaced pairs of interconnecting leg members, a single rod extending between and through said pairs of members at their pivot point providing a pivot axis therefor, the outer of each of said pairs of leg members being secured to the rod and the inner thereof being freely pivoted thereon, cross members interconnecting the upper ends of corresponding of said leg members, a flexible fabric container supported between said cross members, flexible re-enforcing means extending along the edges of said container between said cross members, brace means interconnecting corresponding of said leg members adjacent their bottom ends, other brace means interconnecting corresponding of said legs adjacent the pivot axis thereof and also serving as stop means to limit the maximum angularity to which said leg members can be moved, a jointed means extending between and interconnecting the leg members of each pair adjacent their pivotal connection and collapsible to permit the folding of said basket and also being adjustable for rigidly retaining said leg members in their position of maximum angularity, hand hold means in said container at each end thereof whereby said cross members can be grasped for transporting said basket, and pocket means on each end of said container.

MARION H. JACKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,851 Van Arnum July 10, 1877 354,713 Lawson et al Dec. 21, 1886 526,249 Meeker Sept. 18, 1894 633,530 Myers Sept. 19, 1899 694,289 Lingston Feb. 25, 1902 1,169,100 Wunderlich Jan. 18, 1916 1,287,538 Webster Dec. 10, 1918 1,310,669 Morgan July 22, 1919 1,924,006 Story Aug. 22, 1983 2,044,517 Thomas June 16, 1936 2,384,873 Barksdale Sept. 18, 1945 

